Schedule a hearing test with VA
‘Did you hear that?’ For years, Army Veteran Kevin McGovern’s answer to that question would be a resounding no.
The 67-year-old’s hearing loss not only affected his ability to communicate with his family and friends but also to hear critical information over the dispatch while supervising the Kankakee County 911 center.
“Hearing loss made things more challenging,” said McGovern. “There were times when I had to bring in a natural listener at work and have them confirm what I heard over the dispatch.”
McGovern recalled not being able to hear out of his left ear despite wearing hearing aids. When watching television with his wife one night, he cleaned and replaced the left aid as well as changed the receiver, but nothing helped.
He then decided to seek help from Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital audiologists, specifically Dr. Stacey Sturgulewski, who suggested he proceed with getting cochlear implants. In July 2022, McGovern underwent cochlear implant surgery for his left ear and could understand speech following the implant activation.
“I went back to work same day as the surgery,” said McGovern. “I had people come into my office to talk to me. It was amazing to be able to hear and understand their speech.”
Over time, McGovern began to comprehend sounds he didn’t remember hearing before, such as the icemaker, dishwasher and garbage truck. Due to the success of his first cochlear implant, he obtained his right implant in May 2023. Following the procedure, McGovern said he felt even more confident in personal and professional communication situations.
Research helps with hearing loss
As a result, he has used his newfound hearing to partake in educational research.
McGovern participated in a hearing study at the University of Illinois where engineering students were studying how you process sounds. He recently accepted an invitation from Purdue University to undergo a study examining how those with hearing devices process speech.
McGovern credits his experience with Hines VA’s audiology clinic as lifechanging.
“Communication can be hard with natural ears and, when you take that way, it is even harder,” said McGovern. “Getting this cochlear implant technology has allowed me to reengage with my family, friends and professional world.”
McGovern’s experience is the reason Dr. Sturgulewski wakes up every day.
“When I work with cochlear implant patients, I see the dramatic difference in their quality of life, and when we can offer them an implantable option that gives them that access back to being able to communicate with their friends and family, it is so motivating.”
The positive difference cochlear implants made in McGovern’s life has prompted him to encourage other Veterans experiencing hearing loss to seek help from the Hines audiology team.
“I would encourage anyone struggling to hear and who thinks they may have hearing issues to go through the testing process with their audiologist,” said McGovern.
It’s never too late to apply for VA health care you’ve earned. If you are a Veteran or know a Veteran who has not yet applied for their VA health care benefits, learn how to get started.
This article was originally published on the VA Hines Health care System site and has been edited for style and clarity.
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Excellent article
GM, Is there a way to have you schedule an appointment with the facility or clinic you have accessed before or where you are located? So you may have this question addressed in detailed.
How maintenance goes into the CI? I have a Cholclelear BAHA and I cannot wear the aid a lot of the time because of irritation around the abutment.
What is the procedure? How is the surgery? Recovery time? Are you able to hear and understand conversations when talking with people? I am sick and tired of hearing aids that only amplify the noise. Tinnitus is driving me crazy.
At VACT West Haven Campus, we have a wonderful Cochlear Program, with exemplary multidisciplinary team of Audiologists, ENT/Otolaryngology Physicians/Surgeons, and Perioperative leadership and frontline staff.
Our Chief of Audiologist is Dr. Cyndi Trueheart and her exceptional team of Audiologists, Speech Therapists, ENT clinic staff, our ENT Surgeon Dr. Douglas Hildrew, and the Perioperative staff & Anesthesiology team continue to provide full service Veteran-centered care in VISN 1 which started in July of 2013 after a rigorous application and accreditation.
It has become a sought after service and now a sustainable CI and continues to offer best quality care especially those close to home.
One of the greatest aspects is that the team can work with both ears at the same time. Most of the cochlear implant patients have a hearing aid in the other ear. Now they can adjust their cochlear implant and their hearing aid in the other ear in the same visit at the same place.
The Veterans like this aspect and we are truly proud with our service and continues to be the gold standard and with the ongoing technological innovation and our partners with the devices/implants that best serves the needs of the Veterans.
I have had VA hearing aids over 2 years. Very good and I appreciate what they have done for me. They amplify sound and I hear sounds inside, around and outside house. The one big problem I cannot overcome is people who mumble when they talk or those with a soft voice. I cannot even hear my regular VA primary physician because she mumbles, has a soft voice and accent. Have to get nurses to recount what she tells me. My wife mumbles and I miss a lot of what she says (until she yells “you need to get hearing aids fixed”). Lot of tv programs can only get certain words, yet on other programs can hear everyone all the time. VA audiologist has tried to tweak this but cannot clear up the soft mumbling voice issue. Increasing volume of hearing aid only amplifies other sounds further away and actually makes understanding the person speaking worse. I do appreciate people who enunciate their words and speak with a normal volume. Those of us with a certain level of hearing damage experience a great loss in communication and even worse I may respond wrong in many situations or give wrong answer because I guess at what the person said. Asking a person to repeat I just give up after third time to avoid my embarrassment and I find the person speaking gets worse after the second request.
I am also a veteran with service connected profound hearing loss. I had my first cochlear implant in 2015, and the second one in 2018. All in all the VA was and still is amazing! I still go to see my VA Audiologist about every three to six months for testing and adjustments. My only comment regarding this story, is that there is no way this person went back to work the same day as the surgery and heard anything! It takes six weeks post op before you are even given the processors! I think his recounting of the story needs to be changed. I am a certified and registered volunteer for Cochlear and am VERY confident in what I am stating here. Also, in my 11 year experience with Cochlear I know of no one that returned to work the same day as the surgery and heard speech. Again, you are not given the processors until six weeks post op., so that in itself is false!
Just for some tech support…I’m a former Product Engineer at Advanced Bionics. The implant surgery is not the most complex operation but has some critical parts, and so, that there is some recovery time for the body, and it will some weeks before the implant is energized. The sound processor fits on the head over the implant location and is held in place by strong magnets. The initial energizing of the implant is usually done by the audiologist and they may also setup the first programming and work with the patient for options; and if the patient is willing and able to adjust settings as mental acuity returns for hearing. Many patients also have a hearing aid paired to the implant Sound Processor and recent products do an excellent job of configuring the sound for noise reduction and voice clarity.
Did he try a BiCros ?
Does the VA help with ringing in the ear
I had an appointment late last year. The physician I saw told me I had moderate hearing loss in both ears but more severe in the right consistent with exposure to loud noises.
He explained that I qualify for hearing aids and that the VA purchases only the very best. He took a mold of my ears so that the devices can be custom fit, something I did not have in my 14 year old hearing aids from a private doctor.
I go back in early February to get the aids and be shown how to use them. He is going to include a free cleaning kit.
I’ve never used the VA for audio before, and the best thing, there was no co-pay.
Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran 1965-1969
I served 1963-1967 and got my hearing aids from the VA in 2020 I think. They switched me to a BiCros in my left ear because it is totally deaf.
The BiCros sends the sounds from the left to my right ear.
My right ear is far from 100% so I am just waiting it out to see if I can get by. I need people to look at me when they talk.
Only time will tell.
Good luck and best wishes.